HOW TO JOIN TROOP 297/SCOUTING

Crossing Over into Boy Scouts--that time in scouting when Webelos must decide whether or not they are going to continue in scouting. This time as a Boy Scout!

The Boy Scout program is fun. It encourages independence, teaches scouts camping/wilderness survival and teaches life skills on a weekly basis. Our troop schedules camping experiences every month, including summer months. A Boy Scout must be 10 years old with the Arrow of Light or 11 years old, with if he has no scouting experience. Yes, you can join Boy Scouts without any previous scouting experience.

Camping and Service opportunities: We camp at local areas within Independence and Brecksville, Ohio, as well as areas in Pennsylvania and southern Ohio. Our troop does a week long summer camp every year, this summer going to Camp Beaumont in Rock Creek, OH.

We are currently exploring opportunities to go on High Adventure campouts. Some places we have camped include Hocking Hills, Manatoc, Mohican Wilderness, Tuscazoar, and participated in the D-Day reenactment in Conneaut, Ohio.

Service hours are an important part of being a boy scout. We do service for the city, schools, community, as well as organizations outside the city limits. All service hours performed by the scouts are approved for credit by the High School. The Scout must wear his uniform while performing his Service Hours.

What do we do at a troop meeting?:Our troop schedules meetings on Sunday nights at the Independence Methodist Church on Rt 21 and Stone Road. One meeting of each month is the Patrol Leader Council Meeting, also called Leadership Meeting, which involves all of the Patrol Leaders and top Leader positions of the Troop.

Skills such as first aid, knot tying, lashings, winter and summer safety, hiking, water safety, etc are taught during scout meetings throughout the year, as we try to work on requirements you need in order to advance in your rank. Another skill taught in boy scouts is leadership. Sometimes you are learning leadership skills without even knowing it is happening. There are also chances to work on "Merit Badges" while a scout.

At the end of the meeting we meet for closing circle; it is the last time to make announcements (yes, announcements, we don’t sing that song in boy scouts), as we end in silence, with a final Philmont saying at the end.

So come on in for a meeting, meet some new friends and have fun!! Bring a friend if you would like. You can join boy scouts without ever being in scouting, so don’t let that stop you.

What can boy scouts offer me?:We have heard from many scouts that it was because of a merit badge that they earned in scouting, that they went into their vocation of choice. There are over 130 merit badges offered in scouting which cover just about every field/vocation you could possibly have an interest in. Scouting can also offer you scholarship opportunities. There are many scholarships available should you reach the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank possible in scouting. These scholarships are given through the National Eagle Scout Association, VFW and American Legion Halls, as well as Elk Lodges. If you are interested in joining the Military Forces, being an Eagle Scout can get you into Annapolis Naval Academy and West Point. If going into the military at an entry level, the Eagle Scout rank allows you an immediate promotion in rank. It also helps attain points if you have plans on being a Fireman or Policeman.